Quick Guide: Kolad, Maharashtra

Getting there
Closest Airport: Mumbai
Railway Station: Kolad
Route by road: Take NH17 past Vadkhal Naka and Nagothane. Short of Kolad, the road ascends over the ghats.

Since it has little to offer tourists other than the odd semi-dry waterfall, you can be forgiven for wanting to keep the accelerator down as you enter Kolad town on NH17. That, indeed, is the right idea here. For the lush valleys and wetlands of the Sahyadris around Kolad is actually a naturalist’s arena, full of the pure greens of the Konkan.

However, if you do decide to stay, there are simple pleasures such as angling in the Kundalika or getting drenched in a rare, perennial Sahyadri waterfall. For those who have been planning forever to build a holiday home and haven’t seen that dream realised, there is the option of experiencing the joys of the same in the rented country homes of wealthy Mumbaikars, who bring the magic of rural Konkan to urbanites.

Things to see and do
Kolad itself is a sleepy town of about 5,000 villagers who seem content to let their town lie still in a timewarp. Kolad is so sleepy that it is ironic that the approach to the town is full of hairpin bends, as you ride through the ghats to get here. It is advisable to eat light for the impending journey.

During the monsoon, visitors can see several waterfalls that dot this region during the rains.

Excursions
Tired of lying in a hammock and throwing stones in the river? Hike up a hill to Dholwal Dam. The majesty of the wide dam, with its gushing waters, can take your breath away. The Sutarwadi lake, 13 km from Kolad, has boating and watersports. About 17 km away from Kolad is Ghosala Fort and 20 km down the road to Pune is Tamhane Waterfall, at its most magnificent during the monsoons. Kuda Caves, 40 km away, as per legend date to the time of the Mahabharata. The trip of about an hour is worth it, as there is also a small, secluded beach here. About 25 km away is Tala Fort and 32 km away is Gaimukh, a popular pilgrimage centre. 

Nature lovers can visit Bhira Dam, or the Tata Powerhouse Dam, about 28 km away, which has beautiful vistas and a waterfall.

White-water Rafting
In recent years, Kolad has developed into a prime destination for rafting. Mumbaikars stuck in a rut through the week come here to let off steam during the weekend. Prim and proper corporate types transform into a squealing, rowdy bunch as they battle the rapids, awestruck and exhilarated in equal measure.

Diversions
The drive to the Murud-Kashid-Alibaug stretch via Roha from Kolad is among the best coastal drives in India. The road loops through paddy fields before running along the surf and sand, taking a far more circuitous route than the feisty Kundalika River, empties into the Arabian Sea at Korlai Fort.

Where to stay
There are a few lush farmhouses, all just outside Kolad and two of these (Greenacre Farms and Camp River Wild) are run by Team Timepause (www.timepause.com), which also organises adventure activities like boating, trekking, birdwatching, rafting and kayaking. There are no phones or TVs in any of these properties. For reservations, call their Mumbai office at Cell: 09820075770.

Greenacre Farms (Tariff: INR 1,850 per person, with meals) has a riverside location and offers 2 cottages. Camp River Wild (Tariff: INR 1,850 per person, with meals) is also a riverside property with 8 villas. Another good option for nature lovers is Ecomantra’s Rivertrail Eco Camp (Cell: 0983377870/ 71; Tariff INR 2,250 per person; ecomantra.com). They organise rafting and kayaking, in addition to other group activities. Doctor’s Farm (Tel: 02194-695560; Tariff: INR 1,350-1,750 per person, with meals; doctorsfarm.com) has bungalows, rooms, dorms and bamboo cottages. It is located by the placid Kundalika river. Here you can indulge in bird-watching, fishing and trekking or wander down nature trails. Also by the Kundalika river lies Sai Farm (Cell: 09869208251; Tariff: INR 1,500-1,700; www.saifarmkolad.com), with comfortable cottages and rooms overlooking the river. The resort offers activities such as white-water rafting, trekking and kayaking.

Where to eat
All the eating joints are on NH17. They include Hotel Jayesh, which has a permit room and beer bar. Good Luck serves good non-vegetarian fare. On your way out of Kolad, Vijay Palace has beer and excellent fried fish. It’s a good place to stop on your way further down the Konkan. The restaurant at Prabhakar Lodge serves Maharashtrian, Chinese, Punjabi and South Indian. A non-vegetarian thali here costs around INR 150, for which you get fish, rice, sol kadi and aamti.